Bears' Coaches Won't Lead Cheers

August 14, 2000|By John Mullin, Tribune Staff Writer.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Maybe it is a sign. Maybe it was just a coach being a coach, where nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems.

Last year defensive coordinator Greg Blache bristled at questions about the Bears' lack of a pass rush, though it was apparent early that it would be the No. 1 off-season priority in the form of $24.5 million for Phillip Daniels.

Now, after consecutive games in which his defense allowed no touchdowns, Blache was in no mood to lavish superlatives on his group.

"It doesn't matter, doesn't matter," Blache said. "It's only preseason. We were sloppy, too sloppy. I really wasn't pleased with it at all. We made some plays, but I just didn't think we improved from last week."

Blache and Crowton will not be the only skeptics in the wake of the Bears' 19-6 victory Saturday over the Cleveland Browns. Indeed, the Bears' next exhibition opponent is Cincinnati, a team that hasn't had a winning season since 1990, meaning it will be some weeks before it is clear if the 2000 Bears are better than the `99 Bears, their 2-0 exhibition record notwithstanding.

"I'm excited," said defensive end Bryan Robinson, a dominant presence with two tackles inside the Bears' 20 and a deflected pass in less than a half of play. "Even though it's a preseason game, all these things mean something to me. This is a chance to get better. Besides, in preseason games you don't game-plan. You just go out and react to what the other guy's doing. By game-planning we're going to be a lot better than what you're seeing."

The starters on defense and offense are expected to play most of the first three quarters against the Bengals. For the offense, which was hurt by several mixups between quarterback Cade McNown and receivers, the anticipated return of receiver Marcus Robinson should help. Robinson, out with a strained abdomen, said he might not know until Thursday or Friday whether he can play.

It was apparent Saturday night that the offense still isn't totally in sync. McNown and tight end Alonzo Mayes missed on a third-down pass because of some route confusion. A mixup between McNown and receiver Bobby Engram, whose grasp of the offense by the end of last season was among the best on the team, resulted in the first interception of the preseason for the Bears.

"[McNown] threw on time, which I liked," Crowton said. "I actually think it was Bobby's fault, but Cade shouldn't have thrown it. Bobby and I talked about it, [in case] we had another play like that."

McNown took responsibility for the misses. "I have to be more patient," he said. "I know who I have to get the ball to and I see them there. But I still have to let the play develop and then get the ball to them at the right time."

The Bears will practice twice Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday morning before breaking camp, then will resume practices closed to the public at Halas Hall on Thursday.